Bottle.



PATENTED NQV. 17, l903 C. E. MGCLELLAN.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BOTTLE.

SESECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,38 5, dated November 17, 1903. Application filed February 19,1903. Serial No. 144.138. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom t mol/y concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MCCLEL- LAN, a citizen ofthe United States,residing.at Zanesville, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide a bottle of such a structure that it cannot be filled a second time, with fraudulent intentions on the part of the second user, and goods inferior to those originallysold and contained within the receptacle passed off on the public for purposes of deceit. The structure is such that after once being lled the bottle must practically be mutilated to permit removal of the contents, and thus all likelihood of any deceit being practiced is obviated.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for eifectin g the result reference is to be .had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

-While the essential and characteristic features ofthe invention are susceptible of modivication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional View of .the upper portion of a bottle embodying, the invention. Fig. 2 is a'perspective view of the closure. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a U-shaped locking spring-piece.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings bythe same reference characters.

In carrying out the invention the neck 1 of the bottle is provided upon its inner periphery with a shoulder 2. An annular groove 3 is also formed upon the inner periphery and preferably above and adjacent the shoulder 2. This groove 3 serves to weaken the neck of the bottle at the point where it is formed, whereby the neck may be easily broken from the body of the bottle in a manner which will be readily seen. The shoulder 2 forms a seat for a valve 4,said vvalve being held seated by means which will be hereinafter described. The valve 4 preferably tapers toward its lower end and is preferably made from cork or analogous substance, so as to Vserve as a perfect seal for the bottle. Above the valve 4 is a closure 5. The closure 5 is provided with a transverse aperture 6, and longitudinal grooves 7 extend from the aperture to the lower end of the closure. In order to lock the closure within the neck of the bottle, a U-shaped locking-spring 8 is used, the connecting-bar 8a of the spring being disposed within the transverse aperture of the closure, and the side bars 8b are seated within the longitudinal grooves upon opposite sides of the said closure. Lugs 9are formed at the lower extremities of the bars 8b of the locking-spring, and these lugs 9 are adapted to engage the annular groove 3 and tol thereby lock the-closu re within the neck of the bottle. It will thus be seen that the groove 3 not only serves to weaken the neck of the bottle so as to make same frangible, but cooperates with the lugs 9 of the locking-spring 8 to lock the closure in place. A coil-spring 10, seated within a recess l1 upon the under side of the closure, normally holds the valve 4 seated upon the shoulder 2 of the bottleneck. The closure 5 is made of glass, though any other suitable substance may be used, and should the said closure, and it is very probable that it will not, not afford a perfect seal for the receptacle the valve 4, since it is firmly held upon its seat, will prevent contamination of the contents of the bottle.

When the bottle is filled, the side hars of the spring 8 are pressed into ythe grooves 7 upon the sides of the closure, said grooves 7v being deeper at their lower ends than at their upper ends, so as to permit the side bars 8b of the locking-spring to be sufficiently depressed that the lugs 9 will be brought about flush with the sides of the closure to permit of introduction of same within the neck of the bottle. When the closure has been inserted and is in proper position, the lugs 9 @will of course engage the groove 3 and rigidly lock the closurein the bottle. To remove the contents of the receptacle,a smarttap upon the\upper portion of the neck will Vcause the sameto break upon lines approximately at the point where the groove 3 is formed, and the valve 4 will then be unseated, and the contents are then easily accessible.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In a bottle, and in combination with the neck provided upon its inner periphery with an annular shoulder forming a valve-seat, a valve seated on said shoulder, an annular weakening-groove also disposed upon the inner periphery of the neck and above and adjacent to the aforesaid shoulder, a closure provided with a transverse opening and having longitudinal grooves upon opposite sides extending from the said opening, said grooves being deeper at their lower ends than at their upper ends, a U-shaped locking-spring having its connecting-bar disposed within lthe transverse opening of the closure and its side bars seated within the grooves upon the sides of the closure and adapted for movement in said grooves, lugs projected from the lower ends of the side bars and adapted to spring into the annular weakening-groove of the neck, said lugs being also adapted to lie approximately in contact with the upper portion of the valve to rigidly hold the same in position, a spring interposed between the valve and the closure and having one end seated in a recess upon the lowerside of the closure and the opposite end in contact with the valve normally assisting and cooperating with the lugs of the U -shaped locking-spring to rigidly maintain the valve upon its seat,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I af'x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. MCCLELLAN. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

ISAAC C. HARRIS, WALTER S. DUNLAP. 

